Leeds United: Sam Byram rejects contract offer

Phil Hay

Sam Byram has rejected Leeds United’s latest offer of a new contract, the YEP understands.

In a move which looks set to spell the end of the defender’s time at Elland Road, Byram turned down a deal which would have extended his existing contract until the summer of 2017.

Byram’s existing deal ends next summer and Leeds are not expected to return to him with a fresh offer.

The 22-year-old’s future was thrown into doubt 12 months ago when United owner Massimo Cellino asked him to take a cut to his £12,000-a-week wage in return for a lengthy extension.

Byram rejected that offer and further talks in August failed to find a solution but Leeds went back to him earlier this week with a proposal which matched his current salary.

Byram’s resistance to it is likely to see United invite offers for him in the forthcoming January transfer window.

The club will be entitled to compensation if he leaves at the end of this season, however, due to Byram’s age. Everton and Sunderland are both believed to have taken an interest in him.

Amid the doubt about his future, the right-back has been in and out of United’s team and head coach Steve Evans admitted last weekend that Byram’s contractual situation was part of the reason for his omission from the starting line-up.

The former academy player is the leading appearance-maker in the squad at Elland Road and has played 134 times for the club.

He broke through from United’s youth-team ranks in 2012 and went onto win their player-of-the-year award at the end of his first campaign as a professional.